Commencement of the Domestic Worker Sector Skill Council (DWSSC) and the International Migration Centre for Domestic Workers

March 28, 2016: Domestic labor is not considered work by many people. This perhaps stems from the fact that traditionally domestic work was done by women and the work done by women is seldom valued. This segment in India constitutes one of the largest segments, nearly 20 million of the workforce, majority being women whose services mostly go unrecognized. These millions of domestic help can be found in the Indian families from lower middle class households in the villages to the most affluent ones in the metropolitan cities. Most of these domestic worker’s function as 'lifelines' to the households, render multiple types of services, as full time and part time, live-in and live-out, and they are described as 'domestic servants'. The practices associated with this occupation are undignified and completely unacceptable, partly for the reason that domestic workers have not yet acquired the status of a profession or a trade. The 'Commencement' of 'Domestic Workers Sector Skill Council (DWSSC)' and 'International Migration Centre set up in Delhi and Jharkhand by Mr. R. P. Rudy, the Hon'ble Union Minister for Skill Development & Entrepreneurship (Independent Charge) & Parliamentary Affairs, Govt. of India within India's most ambitious program 'Skilling India' launched by the Hon'ble Prime Minister Mr. Narendra Modi. This beginning opens up a small gateway for the skilling and empowerment of 'Domestic Workers' which is, perhaps, India's largest Sector in its unorganized economy. It is well known that over 90% of India's workforce happen to be unorganized and nearly all of them are awaiting skilling for dignity and professional efficiency, higher wages coupled with better life and service conditions and, ultimately, freedom from the vicious circle of uncertainty, poverty and exploitation.
Mr. Amod Kanth, Chairperson Domestic Worker Sector Skill Council said This occasion is to also mark the beginning of a highly inspirational sector, starting with the Job Roles related with 'Housekeeping and Cooking', which, undoubtedly, is the most prevalent and absolutely essential activities in the families world over. For the present, taking a lead from the Prime Minister's dream to create millions of Jobs abroad garnering best advantage of India's 'demographic dividend', we have created a program for training and Placements of Housekeeper and Cooks as dignified and remunerative profession in different countries, including UK from where two of the best known training and Job related Organizations have come to assist Prayas and DWSSC. Trainers drawn from some leading organizations and some trainees willing to upgrade their skills and clinch opportunity for change in their lives have been brought together with the Hon'ble Minister, representatives of the British and Indian Governments besides other stakeholders to make this humble start.
To take this initiation forward, Domestic Worker Sector Skill Council partnered with the Ministry of Skill Development Corporation, (MSDC), National Skill Development Corporation, (NSDC), Skill India, Prayas JAC Society and with two United Kingdom based organization called ‘London Cleaning Academy’ and ‘Housekeep’ represented by Ms. Anne Bradley, TD and Ms. Lisa Pirett, Head Operation ‘Housekeep’ and Indian based Cardiologist in U.K Dr. Rajay Narain who has facilitated the entire program in India.

Hon’ble Union Minister of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (Independent Charge) and parliamentary Affairs Mr. Rajeev Pratap Rudy stressed that Domestic Worker Sector Skill Council is entirely different in comparison to other sector skill council like manufacturing or services which are industry connect. He personally feel that the creation of the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship for the first time in Independent India which is the youngest Ministry in India and also has to acknowledge the fact that the skill was existing in our society since centuries. It is there for years or even from the start of the civilization. He emphasized that the tragedy of the country from last 67 years that the Skill was interconnected with the Education Systems. He also quoted that the people who run the education systems carries distinct bias for the education and the value of the skills was totally ignored. He also said that till date we were only recognizing the trainings which we do impart in ‘Industrial Training Institutes having NCVT Certifications. He said that the all requirements of the industry is not filling up with our Engineering Graduates only and today 8 lac out of 16 lac engineering seats remain vacant. He also said that our boys and girls can match with anyone in the world and our manpower should top the hub of ‘Demographic Dividend’. He said that time is changing fast and he stressed that ‘Ten Years of Education even less than ten years of Education with Skill’ will make our young force employable and this is the key point which is the thrust job of the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship. He praised Hon’ble Prime Minister for creating the job opportunities for 500 million people in the country in last one & half years and for which eco-system has to develop in structured way.

Domestic Worker Sector Skill Council in association with National Skill Development Corporation, Skill India, Prayas and London Cleaning Academy & Housekeep also organized two day training, certification and assessment session in which 35 trainees from Ranchi, Gumla and Delhi participated along with 20 Trainer’s. The program was graced by Mr. Ashok Agarwal, IAS Additional Secretary & CEO, Food Safety and Standard Authority of India (FSSAI), Mr. Santosh Matthews Director Ministry of Rural Development, Ms. Gayatri Kalia Chief of Operations Deen Dayal Upadhyay Grameen Kaushal Yojana, Ms. Shashi kiran Consultant SQA National Skill Development Corporation, Ms. Sunita Reddy Assistant Professor Centre of Medicine and Community Health Jawahar Lal Nehru University and representatives from Skill Development Organizations like ‘Empower Pragati’, Get Domestic Help, Be-Able etc. The Hon’ble Minister also unveiled the ‘Practice Handbook; A Trainees Guide on House Keeper-cum Cook’ which was developed by Domestic Worker Sector Skill Council, National Skill Development Corporation and Skill India. The NSDC has since approved the QP-NOSs pertaining to 'General Housekeeper', 'Housekeeper cum Cook', 'Child Caretaker' and 'Elderly Caretaker (Non-medical)', DWSSC has started leading the skilling programs in the related Job Roles aligning with National Skill Qualification Framework (NSQF). Now the MOUs are being signed with State Governments and various Agencies, Training Providers and Assessing Agencies are being identified for affiliations, and the programs being developed in a mission mode to convert this entire sector in its content, approach and character.

The domestic workers sector is perhaps the largest among the unorganized sectors in the country and will cater to the most marginalized and needy. Domestic Worker Sector Skill Council aims to train 25 lac Domestic Workers in 10 years of time through 500 Training partners across India. On this occasion, the Hon’ble Minister also presented ‘Certificate of Participation’ to all successful trainees.